CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's basketball senior
Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) posted her fifth double-double of the season but the Cougars came up short 69-62 to Bloomfield College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
The Cougars fall to 23-5 on the season and end the regular season at 16-3 in the CACC. The Bears improve to 17-11 and finish conference play at 16-3.
Kelty and senior
Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) each scored early buckets for the Cougars but the Bears pulled ahead 10-4 late in the opening quarter. Senior
Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) connected on back-to-back buckets to close the gap to two points with 2:18 left in the quarter.
Bloomfield answered as they extended their lead to at 14 points at 26-12 at the 7:03 mark of the second quarter. Caldwell battled back over the final six minutes but trailed Bloomfield 32-23 at halftime.
Caldwell rallied to start the second half to close the gap to two points. Drogsler, Kelty and senior
Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, Mass.) each scored four points to bring the Cougars back. Drogsler's lay-up at the 2:33 mark of the third quarter cut the score to 39-37. Bloomfield rallied with eight straight points to push ahead 45-37 at the end of the quarter.
The Cougars cut the score down to six points at 56-50 with 3:31 left in the game. The Bears pushed ahead by 12 points at 64-52 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Caldwell closed the gap to five points down the stretch but came up short.
Kelty posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Drogsler totaled 16 points, three boards, four assists and four steals. Sanders chipped in 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. O'Driscoll posted 12 points and four boards.
Prior to the game, the women's basketball team recognized its four seniors in Drogsler, Sanders, Kelty and O'Driscoll.
The North #2 Cougars hosts South #3 Chestnut Hill College in the CACC Championship Quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 27 at 7 pm at the Newman Center.
